Marin voters surge to cast ballots

PRESIDENT OBAMA got a thumbs-up from a parade of voters casting ballots at the Marin Civic Center on Monday, but Mitt Romney won the favor of a few as well.

"About 50 percent of every dollar I make is going to the government to be redistributed," complained a 40-year-old Novato salesman moments after voting for Romney. "If you're able, get out and work!"

Another Romney voter, who like the Novato salesman declined to provide his name for fear of "reprisal," said he's a fan of the GOP's anti-tax plank "and that goes for local tax increases, too."

But a random sampling of voter sentiment among those casting early ballots at the Marin elections office at midmorning found just what you'd expect in a county where registered Democrats trump Republicans: Obama's the Marin favorite.

"I'm an Obama guy," said 52-year-old Parminder Sikand of Ross.

"I still have faith in him, and as a woman, I want to keep my rights" as far as getting equal pay and for controlling health care decisions, said Collette Cadgene, 22, of Belvedere.

Other issues on the minds of voters who stopped to talk included Proposition 37, the "right to know" measure requiring labeling of genetically modified foods; Proposition 32, preventing unions from dipping into worker paychecks for political dues; and Measure A, the county's bid to boost the sales tax to pay for park and farm programs.

Voters appeared at the office throughout the day in a steady stream, and more were expected as polls open until 8 p.m. Tuesday, with Registrar Elaine Ginnold predicting an overall turnout pushing 84 percent in Marin.

"It's been very, very busy, and people are very interested in voting," Ginnold said, noting the office was open over the weekend to accommodate voters. Fifteen extra-hire workers have been brought in to beef up the 10-person registrar's staff for the election in which 155,000 Marin residents are registered to vote.

By early Monday, more than 61,200 mail-in ballots had been returned, and elections officials awaited more, noting 107,500 were sent out. In all, an estimated 20,000 to 25,000 mail-in ballots will pour in Tuesday or be dropped off at polling places — and remain uncounted until later in the week. That means it may be a long night if tight races develop.

"I just can't predict what will happen," Ginnold said, noting votes uncounted Election Night will be tallied in the days that follow, with results announced on the next two Fridays. She said that even in close races, trends set by returns tallied on Election Day most often hold true for the votes that remain uncounted.

The ballot is diverse, including state measures calling for tax increases benefiting schools, to a plan outlawing the death penalty. There are spirited races for political seats ranging from Sausalito City Council to Congress, and a heated, no-holds-barred mudslinging contest for Marin's state Assembly seat.